Oh, well done! Well done, conservative message-crafters! It's such good sport, playing politics with the lives and loves of American taxpayers, isn't it? Bravo!

Look, you and I can have a reasoned debate on the merits of this or that policy in almost any field, but if you're one of these people who supports this kind of institutionalized bigotry, this kind of tacit support for gay-bashing, I'm done. The conversation is over. You are an ass.

If, on the other hand, you're one of this group of squishy people who think this is just about dominion over a particular synonym for union, which must be preserved for the union of a penis and vagina, fine. Call it a civil union, call it pookiesnackenburger for all I care, just make it legal. Just make things right.

One thing I admired about now ex-Senatorial candidate Paul Hackett (ex-D-OH) is that he didn't go weak-kneed on this issue(scroll down), like so many Democrats unfortunately do. I just don't see how it's that hard to make the obvious, reasoned, forceful case for why this is a civil rights issue, and why in a civil, diverse society governed by laws (not commandments) your religion doesn't get to dictate which pairs of loving adults get to enjoy the benefits of marriage.

It took an old-fashioned hell-raising in Ocean County, NJ, (within earshot of NYC!) to persuade the Board of Freeholders to allow dying police Lt. Laurel Hester's long-time partner to inherit her meager estate and benefits. Even a heartwrenching videotaped plea from the cancer-afflicted Hester herself had no immediate effect. Thankfully, the board, embarrassed, eventually relented, just before Hester passed away.

This story ended with a little justice. How many stories don't, and how many won't, because some compassionate conservative has a stick up their ass? Hate the sin, but love the sinner...by wrecking the sinner's life, shitting on their relationship, and ignoring their loved ones when they die.